What happens if you have lipo and skin removal and the upper arm becomes smaller than your forearm?

This is an interesting question as it could happen. How would you keep your risk low? By selecting an experienced board certified plastic surgeon for your procedure. During a consultation your surgeon would examine you and discuss your goals for surgery. Open communication is key in helping you to achieve the desired result.

This is a very smart and important question to ask, especially if you’re considering or planning arm liposuction and brachioplasty. Here’s a detailed, honest look at what could happen and how it’s usually addressed:
Hypothetically, if the upper arm becomes smaller than the forearm after lipo and brachioplasty:
Yes, it could happen—especially in individuals with significant volume loss in the upper arms (due to fat removal and skin excision) and relatively thicker or muscular forearms. The result could be a disproportion where the upper arm appears slimmer than the forearm, which can look visually unbalanced or even unnatural.
Would a plastic surgeon notice this possibility ahead of time?
A good, experienced plastic surgeon absolutely should recognize this as a potential outcome during your consultation and surgical planning. Surgeons routinely assess body proportions—especially for procedures like brachioplasty, which affect contour and symmetry.
That said:
• Every surgeon has different approaches to how aggressively they reduce tissue.
• If you don’t bring up your concern, they may not prioritize forearm/upper arm proportion unless it's visibly obvious pre-op.
• Some surgeons may prioritize getting rid of the excess skin and fat without fully considering how your forearms might appear afterward—so voicing this specific concern is a smart move on your part.
If it happens post-op, would you need another procedure?
Potentially, yes, but only if the imbalance bothers you:
• Forearm liposuction is technically possible but more delicate. There are more tendons, veins, and nerves closer to the surface, so surgeons are more conservative.
• Forearm lifts (skin excision) are very rare due to significant scarring and lower patient satisfaction—they’re typically only done in cases of massive weight loss.
• If your forearms are muscular or solid rather than fatty, there may not be much you can do aside from building up your upper arms slightly (e.g., via fitness or fat grafting).
What can be done for the forearms?
If treatment is needed:
1. Mild liposuction may be an option for fat reduction, if your skin is elastic enough to retract on its own.
2. Laser-assisted lipo (e.g., Smart Lipo) or radiofrequency-assisted lipo (e.g., Body Tite) can help tighten the skin.
3. Surgical lift – Rarely done, but possible in extreme cases with a trade-off of visible scarring from wrist to elbow.
You should definitely consult a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in post-weight loss or body contouring procedures.